The Plumbline

Accept correction, and you will find life; reject correction, and you will miss the road. You can hide your hatred by telling lies, but you are a fool to spread lies. You will say the wrong thing if you talk too much—so be sensible and watch what you say. The words of a good person are like pure silver, but the thoughts of an evil person are almost worthless. Many are helped by useful instruction, but fools are killed by their own stupidity. (Proverbs 10:17-21 CEV) When we are correcting something, there is a substitution for what is wrong or inaccurate. We are making an adjustment in order to increase accuracy or reverse a trend in a particular action. We could also think of correction as the punishment we receive which is intended to put us back on the right course. The idea is that of "substituting" one behavior for another in order to get a different outcome is the most accurate definition. If we continue doing the same thing, we will always get what we have always go...

Got any plans for your day? One nice thing about being on vacation is the lack of plans! We find ourselves very spontaneous, making plans only if it involves being at an established location at a certain time (such as to catch some fish in the early morning hours). Other than that, we kind of just like to take it one day at a time! Not a bad way to live, but how many of us can actually live like this? Unless we are retired, it is not likely!  We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. (Proverbs 16:9) We plan the way we WANT to live - but only God makes us ABLE to live it. Plans and ability are two separate things, are they not? We make a lot of plans which we never seem able to fulfill, right? They just don't come together as they should, or never really get finished because other demands seem to creep up which require our attention. Let's be honest - we all have plans we sometimes have no ability to fulfill - we just hope we might make some ...

Two paths - two choices - a whole lot of things drawing us down one - only one thing drawing us down the other. Life is not always easy, nor are the paths we take totally "well-traveled" by others.  In fact, we may find ourselves on a path which is just not all that well-discovered, nor is it well-worn, yet I have found those paths often give us the greatest discoveries in life!  You hear all the time of people getting a "major" in one subject and a "minor" in another while they are completing their degrees in higher education. In essence, they are saying they have "two pathways" in life which they can fall back on if the need arises.  If the economy takes a turn this way or that, they might be a little more resilient in their job opportunities because of that dual educational path, but in life, it is rare that we can actually follow two paths and do justice to both! There are two paths before you; you may take only one path. One doorway is ...

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.   You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.   That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.   You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.   Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.   I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.   I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.   (Psalm 119:1-8) In examining this passage, I am challenged by the meaning of the word “follow”.  To follow implies many things that I have come to appreciate: To accept the authority of the one we make a matter of our focus or attention – it implies a condition of obedience to the authority and counsel of our ...